Ghana national security and infrastructure protection

Security experts and industry leaders in Ghana are identifying and addressing diverse threats to the nation’s critical infrastructure and borders.

Initial discussions focused on the extractive sector, where officials cautioned against using Sahelian anti-terrorism tactics to combat ‘galamsey’ (illegal mining). Instead, leaders advocated for strategies tailored to local issues like gold smuggling and community disputes. Concurrently, industry executives highlighted digital vulnerabilities, noting that cyberattacks and industrial espionage pose significant risks to physical infrastructure as the mining and energy sectors adopt more technology.

More recent assessments have expanded the focus to include the protection of southern and coastal borders. Security advisors identified the Western Region as a critical area, citing the need to protect oil and gas facilities, power plants, and naval installations from sabotage and organized crime. Concerns were also raised regarding maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea, such as piracy and illegal fishing. Additionally, the National Commission for Civic Education warned that coastal areas are increasingly becoming hotspots for narcotics, disinformation, and violent extremism, prompting calls for these regional realities to be integrated into the 2026–2030 National Security Strategy.